JPEN

World's First Demonstration of Satellite Bus Power Supply Using Perovskite Solar Cells Installed on OrigamiSat-2

October 30, 2026（Updated）
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Space Exploration Innovation Hub Center

  JAXA's Space Exploration Innovation Hub Center, in collaboration with Institute of Science Tokyo and EneCoat Technologies Co., Ltd., has successfully conducted an on-orbit demonstration of perovskite solar cells（PSCs） mounted on the deployable membrane of the Origami Reflectarray Antenna Demonstration Satellite "OrigamiSat-2" (*1). The project achieved the world's first successful demonstration (*2) of supplying power generated by PSCs to a satellite bus.

 OrigamiSat-2 is a small satellite developed by the Institute of Science Tokyo and selected as one of the demonstration missions for JAXA's Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-4. The satellite was launched from New Zealand aboard Rocket Lab's Electron launch vehicle on April 23, 2026. Since 2022, JAXA Space Exploration Innovation Hub Center and EneCoat Technologies have been conducting research and development on space applications of film-type PSCs through the Hub's RFP research program (*3). As part of this effort, film-type PSCs were installed on OrigamiSat-2 for an in-orbit demonstration experiment.

Since May 30, 2026, multiple successful measurements of the solar cells' IV (current-voltage) characteristics, which indicate power-generation performance, have been obtained during on-orbit operations. Furthermore, on September 10, 2026, power generated by the PSCs was successfully supplied to the satellite bus, marking the first achievement of its kind in the world.

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© Institute of Science Tokyo

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Image of the deployed antenna and Earth captured in orbit by an onboard camera on the nanosatellite OrigamiSat-2
© Institute of Science Tokyo

 Future demonstration activities will continue acquiring I-V characteristic data to evaluate long-term performance degradation in the space environment. Through this in-orbit demonstration, the team successfully validated a technology that generates electrical power using lightweight, thin-film solar cells integrated onto deployable membrane structures. Potential future applications of lightweight film-type solar cells include their use on mobile platforms such as automobiles and drones on Earth, as well as on satellites, lunar solar power towers, and other space-based applications.

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